In support of Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 7–13, 2018, Dickinson Center, Inc. is educating the public about fighting stigma surrounding mental illness. Despite the potential stigma in America, a person can recover from mental illness with compassion, empathy and understanding from other people.

One in five adults experiences mental illness problems every year, and 50% of chronic mental illness begins by age 14. Although many people today understand that mental illness is a medical condition, individuals and families affected by mental illness are still often subjected to stigma and discrimination.

A few tips for exploring mental health assistance for you or a loved one:

Talk to your provider. They might refer you to a specialist and make the first appointment.

Be ready to talk about health history and current experiences.

Ask a lot of questions and ask the mental health specialist to explain treatment options for a better understanding of a plan.

Continue to be surrounded by family and friends.

Continue to do sports, exercise, walking or hobbies like art, reading and writing.

In addition, National Depression Screening Day will be held on Thursday, October 11. Around the world, organizations, such as Dickinson Center are sharing information about free and anonymous online questionnaires that can help individuals identify potential signs of depression. Learn more at http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/hyho.

Overall, it’s important to change one’s own behavior to support someone affected by mental health conditions. Showing compassion and listening to friends, family or co-workers can help reduce barriers to people seeking support and treatment.